Abstract: The present invention provides a method for inhibiting the growth of food-borne pathogens, nosocomial pathogens and spoilage microorganisms, the method comprising the steps of: contacting at least one lactic acid bacterium strain selected from the group consisting of Lactobacillus salivarius (L14, L28 and FS56), a mixture thereof; or a whey obtained from fermentation of the lactic acid bacterium strain with the microorganisms.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for inhibiting the growth of pathogens in an animal feed comprising the steps of: contacting an animal feed with at least one lactic acid bacterium strain selected from the group consisting of Lactobacillus salivarius (L14, L28 and FS56), a mixture thereof; or a whey obtained from fermentation of the lactic acid bacterium strain, wherein the at least one lactic acid bacterium strain inhibits the growth of the pathogens, the nosocomial pathogens or the spoilage microorganisms in the pet food.

Abstract: The present invention provides a set of oligonucleotides to screen for the presence of targeted Salmonella serotypes in enrichment or to characterize presumptive colonies. The set of oligonucleotides includes at least one set of primers and probe for the detection of Salmonella serotype selected from Newport, Heidelberg, Infantis, and Hadar and to discriminate between. These new markers can be used after the initial screening assay described herein as a discrimination assay to differentiate S. Heidelberg from S. Infantis and S. Hadar from S. Newport.

Abstract: The present invention provides a set of oligonucleotides to screen for the presence of targeted Salmonella serotypes in an enrichment or to characterize presumptive colonies. The set of oligonucleotides includes at least one set of primers and probe for the detection of Salmonella serotype selected from typhimurium, enteritidis, newport, heidelberg, infantis, virchow and Hadar. The set of oligonucleotides may include up to 5 different primer sets and the corresponding probes.

Abstract: The present invention includes a method of observing and evaluating bacterial infections within the lymph nodes of animals presented for harvest comprising: inoculating at one or more sites of an animal a known amount of a pathogen, wherein the one or more inoculation sites comprise lymph node drainage areas, and at one or more time points obtaining one or more lymph node biopsies to determine the extent of the pathogen in the lymph nodes.

Abstract: The present invention includes a method of introducing a pathogenic infection into one or more peripheral lymph nodes of an animal for testing of meat, comprising: inoculating at one or more peripheral lymph node drainage areas the animal with a known amount of a known pathogen; harvesting one or more peripheral lymph nodes from the animal; grinding meat or meat trimmings and the one or more peripheral lymph nodes into ground meat; and determining a ratio of a number of peripheral lymph nodes infected to the weight of the meat or meat trimmings used to create the ground meat, wherein the infected ground meat can be used to test interventions against the known pathogen in a grinding process.

Abstract: The present invention provides a set of oligonucleotides to screen for the presence of targeted Salmonella serotypes in enrichment or to characterize presumptive colonies. The set of oligonucleotides includes at least one set of primers and probe for the detection of Salmonella serotype selected from Newport, Heidelberg, Infantis, and Hadar and to discriminate between. These new markers can be used after the initial screening assay described herein as a discrimination assay to differentiate S. Heidelberg from S. Infantis and S. Hadar from S. Newport.

Abstract: The present invention provides a set of oligonucleotides to screen for the presence of targeted Salmonella serotypes in an enrichment or to characterize presumptive colonies. The set of oligonucleotides includes at least one set of primers and probe for the detection of Salmonella serotype selected from typhimurium, enteritidis, newport, heidelberg, infantis, virchow and Hadar. The set of oligonucleotides may include up to 5 different primer sets and the corresponding probes.

Abstract: The present invention includes a method of introducing a pathogenic infection into one or more peripheral lymph nodes of an animal for testing of meat, comprising: inoculating at one or more peripheral lymph node drainage areas the animal with a known amount of a known pathogen; harvesting one or more peripheral lymph nodes from the animal; grinding meat or meat trimmings and the one or more peripheral lymph nodes into ground meat; and determining a ratio of a number of peripheral lymph nodes infected to the weight of the meat or meat trimmings used to create the ground meat, wherein the infected ground meat can be used to test interventions against the known pathogen in a grinding process.

Abstract: The present invention includes a method of observing and evaluating bacterial infections within the lymph nodes of animals presented for harvest comprising: inoculating at one or more sites of an animal a known amount of a pathogen, wherein the one or more inoculation sites comprise lymph node drainage areas, and at one or more time points obtaining one or more lymph node biopsies to determine the extent of the pathogen in the lymph nodes.

Abstract: Methods and compositions are disclosed for detection of probiotic bacteria strains intentionally provided to animals comprising: providing an animal with a known amount or number of probiotic bacteria; following a pre-determined time, obtaining a biological sample suspected of comprising the inoculated probiotic bacteria from the animal; and quantitatively detecting the amount of probiotic bacteria in the biological sample.